Being injured by a drunk driver is infuriating. It is outrageous that you must suffer because someone was so irresponsible. The experienced auto collision attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright, also known as The Florida Firm, pursue accountability and financial compensation for people harmed in drunk driving car accidents in DeLand.
When lawyers and other area professionals need representation in an injury case, they turn to us. Our firm has been representing injured people in the community for more than 30 years, and we have a deep well of knowledge and experience. Our track record speaks for itself, as we have obtained verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million in numerous car accident cases.
Drunk Drivers Cause Serious Injuries
Drivers who are impaired by alcohol tend to drive fast and recklessly. Their reaction times are slow, so when their poor driving leads to a collision, it often occurs at high speeds.
High-speed impacts can lead to fiery crashes, causing severe burns. If you or a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt, you might be ejected from your vehicle, which can lead to spinal cord damage, serious head injuries, and death. These catastrophic injuries can also occur when you are properly restrained.
When you are seriously injured in a crash, you can take the at-fault driver to court to obtain fair compensation. Our DeLand attorneys must prove the at-fault driver was negligent, but negligence is assumed if there is proof the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the accident occurred. Because the standard of proof is more rigorous in a criminal case, a drunk driver can be found negligent in a civil case even if they were never convicted or even charged criminally.
Get Legal Assistance Right Away After a Collision With a Drunk Driver
When you are badly hurt in a crash, the insurance company for the at-fault driver may approach you with a settlement offer soon after. The insurer will try to entice you to accept before you have any idea what your actual losses may be. Never accept an offer to settle a drunk driving accident case without first discussing it with a DeLand attorney from The Florida Firm.
If you have serious injuries, it could be months before you have a reliable prognosis and learn the likelihood of a full recovery. The driver who caused the accident owes you compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished future earning capacity, plus money for your pain and suffering. It is impossible to accurately estimate those losses until there is a clear understanding of your future condition.
Do not allow worry over paying your bills to spur you to accept less than you deserve. We have staff who can negotiate with your creditors, make payment arrangements with your medical providers, and help you apply for disability and other benefits.
Does Your Drunk Driving Accident Case Merit Punitive Damages?
Most personal injury cases settle before a trial, and doing so usually benefits all parties. Resolving a case through a settlement means you get your compensation quicker, and the other parties have certainty about how much the case will cost them.
However, there are situations where going to trial is an attractive option. If the facts in your case support asking for punitive damages, our DeLand lawyers might consider litigating your drunk driving accident injury case. Florida Statutes § 768.73 allows you to ask for punitive damages when there is clear evidence that the at-fault driver’s conduct was intentional or so reckless that it shows a conscious disregard for others’ safety.
Proof that a driver was intoxicated and drove anyway may be sufficient to support a request for punitive damages. The state caps punitive damages in most cases, but there is no cap if the defendant is a drunk driver.
Contact a DeLand Attorney If You Were Hurt in a Crash With a Drunk Driver
When someone is so reckless as to drive while drunk and causes you to suffer a severe injury, you must hold them accountable. The lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright have had considerable success obtaining damages for the victims of drunk driving car accidents in DeLand.
You pay nothing up front to work with us, and we do not collect expenses or fees until we reach a positive outcome in your case. Schedule a free consultation with an intake specialist on our car accident team today.